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The 2012 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (30 March - 6 April), second round of the 2012 FIA Cross Country World Cup and first round of FIM World Cup for bikes, has signed a deal to offset any environmental damage from the event. The agreement is signed between Automobile & Touring Club of UAE (ATCUAE) with Carbon Credit brokerage, Advanced Global Trading (AGT), and considered to be the first of its kind in the region.

The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge involves over 360 vehicles from support teams, competitors and organisers participating across the spectacular terrain of the Liwa Desert. The FIA’s environmental committee reporting presented that a significant amount of CO2 emissions from such a large motorsport event were present, therefore the ATCUAE decided to offset these emissions with the support of AGT.

The UAE government is leading the region in regards to renewable energy and environmental awareness projects, with investments expected to tally up to $2.74 trillion by 2020. And Abu Dhabi is again hosting the World Energy Summit in January 2013.

Prior to every event, ATCUAE briefs all competitors about potentially negative effects on the Western Region as a wildlife habitat. If they’re not responsible - such as with oil spills and changing filters during the race - there are heavy penalty points deducted from competitors who breach guidelines. The UAE’s environmental authorities are involved from the outset - even down to planning the route.

"We wholeheartedly welcome AGT on board as our partners and are pleased they have offered to retire the total number of Carbon Credits in order to negate any unavoidable damage that happens and we’re proud to be implementing such positive measures," said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, ATCUAE President and founder of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

AGT is an industry-leader in sourcing and trading Carbon Credits to help companies and individuals offset their CO2 emissions and mitigate the harmful effects of climate change, employing over 140 traders in the UAE, UK, Switzerland, USA, South Africa and Spain.

AGT will calculate emissions post-race, before purchasing and retiring the correct number of VER (Voluntary Emissions Reduction) Carbon Credits to equal the total environmental pollution. These retired credits will be ploughed back into projects, such as wind farms or carbon capture initiatives that help the environment.

The calculation will include emissions from the vehicles participating in the event, as well as their support teams in addition to marshals, officials and rescue team vehicles. Also included in the calculations are the four evacuation helicopters and the camp generators.